week, a team that has an opponent on the ropes and fails
to punch them through. And that's exactly what the Browns
did. The Ravens covered the two
and a half point spread for the many out there who care about
such things and
it and made it very, very interesting. Late. 2422 is
a final. Here's Baker. Mayfield quarterback to the Browns after
the game regarding his frustration, with the inability
of the Browns to deliver
that knockout punch.
Ch.
We did enough to win the game.
So that's, you know, check that box off but
got conservative. I think we need to, you know, put that
team away. You know, we got ahead early,
just need to capitalize when the defense is fine, like that
and holding them two points and we need to, you know, put it
away. That's what good teams do is. We need to improve on that,
but we were better in the Red Zone today and on third
down. That's something that
obviously I've talked to you guys about. So
we just need to play better
in those situations to put the game away.
Got conservative, who got, conservative Baker. Did you get
conservative? Who got conservative? I'd like to know
more about this frustration, from Baker, Mayfield Mike that
they got conservative because it sounds like
he's objecting to
the approach the play calling,
you know, there are clearly issues happening not very far
below the surface in Cleveland and even as Baker begins to
become healthy,
you can tell there's something there. He's not a guy, too.
It's words but
some things are better left for
the meeting room. The film room, the practice field
because that just that's that's red meat for those of us who
make a living looking for these issues to
polish and massage and
further, explore and peel levels off of because there's
there's obviously something there for him to blur it out.
We got conservative because he's not talking about himself
when he says that.
Listen
there. I said 24 26 at halftime. They have a lead
basically throughout This game and give Baltimore credit for
coming back. Mark Andrews had an unbelievable game for
Baltimore.
But we have seen many a team do this, Mike right where they
kind of go into a shell, they do get conservative and they
try
to not lose the game. Instead of put your foot on the throat
and really make sure you secure the game and then it's how you
deal with it when you still win, but the other team makes
a bit of a comeback.
And listen, we've seen Baker talk before especially early in
his career. About teammates at left. Coaches that have left.
And I think he's learned some things about, you know,
managing what you say,
but here, you're right. All this you what you don't want to be
and list of the quarterback has to talk all the time.
But one thing you try to avoid
is saying something. That's why I even though I've been in this
business for a couple of decades. I still like it when
in all honesty when the interview was boring. I've
always been that that locker room guy. Give me the boring
interview don't give Them anything to latch onto
because now that's what's going to happen. The reporters are
going to go to Kevin stefanski and said your quarterback. Just
is not happy, send, it, got conservative. So what how did
you get conservative? What's going on there?
You know, and it's fair to ask. I mean
baker said it. So that's what you do. It's a reporters are
going to do, they're going to ask and you're right. You
don't, you don't need it. Now, is it the difference of what's
going to happen on the field? I doubt it.
I really do. But why, why even invited in? That's what we
always say, why? Invited in
to the locker room because in other people are going to be
asked at not just the coach other players. Hey, do you
think the offense got conservative your quarterback?
Setting a conservative didn't did it. And now you put other
people on the spot, they have to
answer a certain way.
It seems like a frustrated
line, right? He's frustrated because they didn't end up
putting this team away and he and he said what he said, one
line, one line seems like it's not that big a deal,
but where it's going to go. And who's going to be? He asked now
will balloon this thing more than it should be for sure.
Especially Mike, because there was an interview of Baker,
Mayfield by Kurt, Warner of NFL Network. And Kurt asked him
about outside voices, outside criticism. And
here's what Mayfield says, it comes down to trying to find
an even balance of listening to those opinions around you that
truly matter friends family team mates, and that's been
the tricky part about this year has been
a lot of Eternal things. It hasn't just been
the outside noise. I have to be myself and try to do my job
100%. The guys that truly know me, understand that we need to
take care of business
in the building. And I need to be myself for these guys. Now,
it does not take an advanced degree in linguistics or
psychology to understand. There's something going on in
Cleveland and maybe it's a little Beckham jr. And
the aftermath of that, maybe there's some
friction. And resentment because Jarvis Landry doesn't
have his good friend there anymore. I don't know that this
is all happening in a very tenuous time in the long-term
relationship between the Browns and Baker Mayfield because it
doesn't have
a contract. Yet.
How much are they going to pay him? What are they going to
offer him? Is there going to be a huge gap between what they'll
pay and what he wants? And how much of institutional fatigue
is creeping in?
How much Baker Mayfield? Can you take? Because, my guess is,
when you get him behind the scenes, he's a lot more vocal
and a lot more strident and a lot more belligerent. What we
see publicly. Well, listen, he I think he's like a lot of
quarterbacks confident in his abilities and confident in
the situation and not
afraid to speak up, you know, especially inside the building.
And again, we're not inside the building so we don't know. But
what I do know, having been inside buildings for a bunch of
years in playing is you don't want to invite in more
questions. You don't
want to show any cracks at all. That lets that lets the media
or the outside world come into to see. Could happen because
you're not the only one. And as I said before, you're not
the only one that's going to answer the questions.
You're going to say something
and how you say it,
then leads to how other people are going to be asked. So when
you're starting to talk about inside the building and listen,
they're going to be people out there, that hear me say this?
I had it for 20 years. When I had a show of saying,
well, you want these guys, to be honest. I mean, I'd rather
than be honest and I'm like, I get it if you're a fan or now,
I'm in the media. I want an answer like that because then,
Got something to talk about us, something to dig, but I always
think as a former player first, and my former player, I says,
be boring as hell. Say nothing, you know, let them ask their
questions, be boring and get away. And say, I got nothing
out of that interview,
but, you know what? Some guys just have the personality baker
has one where he's not afraid to just say stuff, you know,
he'll he'll say things and and people love that. We love that
in the media because it leads us to talking about it, but it
does invite, it doesn't just affect you.
You because your teammates now are going to have to answer
questions. After you say something like that.
And Mike we are going to see plenty of the seven and six Browns.
Over the next few weeks
Saturday, Raiders
at Cleveland a Saturday game on NFL Network and 4:30 p.m.
Eastern Christmas Day 4:30 p.m. Eastern.
Right? Where you are, well not actually in the hotel, but in
Green Bay at the football, stadium Browns and Packers what
a Christmas gift that is. And then
the following Monday night, the third of January,
the Ben Roethlisberger farewell game, at least at the regular
season, goes the chances, the Steelers hosting a playoff game
at this point slim and almost none. So that'll be the last
time rothsburgher ever plays at Heinz Field.
Three, very high-profile big platform.
Everyone is paying attention games.
This is not
the ideal storyline that you want going into these three big
games where there's something going on that Baker. Mayfield
is not happy about.
Yeah, the thing I'll say no to is players in that locker room
are also used to Baker. Speaking is mine and I'm not
sitting here saying, hey, don't do that. I'm just saying how
I liked it approach because I listen
when I was in the locker room and Philadelphia. We had
a bunch of a personalities out there, but a lot of times they
left things in the lock. Room
Baker. Listen, I think players.
I think he's a good leader. I think players like to follow
him. I think he's a fiery guy think, he gets that team going
and he speaks his mind.
He speaks his mind. So from that side of it.
I can't sit there and say,
wow, the stifle, the guy from speaking his mind. Again.
I think the approach could be a little different. But you know
what? Everybody is different and I think in today's world
you get guys speaking up a little more. I don't think
that's
going to change. So
the one thing I will say,
it's not like There's going to be surprised in that Locker
when they get asked questions. I said, it'll the questions are
going to other players, but they're kind of used to that
and this is a team, they know who they are this year.
They're not really blowing anybody out. Right? I think
we're a little more surprised than anything else that they
had a 24-6 and Lead at halftime, right? This offense
isn't a juggernaut offense.
This is an offense led by running
Baker's year. It's not been a monster passing year not like
last year. I think when it was what 28 touchdowns or whatever,
had the big, big passing year.
Not this year for them. They're going to have to gut out and
stretch out wins, you know and hopefully do it with more
defense as well and a good running game or a great running
game and a complimentary passing game,
that's their team this year.
So I think their games are going to be more closer than
not, then 5:36 leaves. They're going to be more
dogfight. And I think Baker definitely has the personality
of a dog fight because that's kind of what he is. He's kind
of a scratch and Claw. Guy to get it done. So I guess that's
what I'll say. There's as I said, there's always two sides
to a coin. The other side is
players know, Baker Mayfield and know
how he speaks, but they know him more in that locker room
better than anybody else.
Ravens finished the season with three of the four final games
at home. They've got Packers in Baltimore at the Bengals, Rams,
and Steelers at home to finish the season. So that gives them
a little bit of an advantage, but
it's not going to be easy,
not with the injuries, and not with those teams. They're
playing for the Browns. It's the three games. We mentioned,
Raiders at the Packers, at the Steelers,
final game of the season of visit from the Cincinnati
Bengals a team. The Browns blew out earlier this year.